Tulips at RoozenGaarde in Washington's Skagit Valley 2023

I love tulips and have an infinite amount of patience when it comes to admiring and photographing them. Last year I visited Tulip Time for a Friday Fun Day with my friend Amy. We arrived in the Skagit Valley around 1 pm (with a light picnic I had packed) and spent the afternoon visiting 2 Tulip Farms and Christianson's Nursery.

Then on Sunday, Dan and I took my mom up for a day trip to see the tulips. She had seen them our first year in Seattle but its been 8 years and it was time for another visit up close. It was really perfect because my Friday trip helped me decide which farm to take my mom to (RoozenGaarde) and how to orchestrate the trip (remember to bring chairs & lunch). It went so well and she had a great day. 

A new development was she now stands and tells me which photos to take, so everything you see here was art directed by Louise.

I love the apricot-pink tulip Menton. I can't be sure if this is it, but it sure gives the same effect.

The show gardens at RoozenGaarde feature ribbons of color and texture and are worth the price of admission. It is best to visit midweek when you can take photos without the crowd in every shot, but either way you will enjoy the magnificent natural displays.

Why don't I plant peach tulips with peach centered daffodils and deep blue grape hyacinth? This is such a charming display.

I want to call this garden bed "Cream & Sugar." 

And this delightful pink & peach double tulip combo is girly and glorious.

We also stopped at Christianson's Nursey and shopped for plants (and we love their gift shop!). I can't recommend a day like this enough. And if you can do it with your mom you have hit the jackpot.

Tulip Time in the Pacific Northwest: Tulip Town

I was lucky and had 2 occasions to drive up to the Skagit Valley to appreciate the tulips last year at this exact time. It was so relaxing and so beautiful, I need to encourage you to jump in the car.

This post shows the photos when my friend Amy & I drove up to see Tulip Town. We looked around the grounds, and in the gift shop but the highlight was the hayride around the square field. 

I think I may need to print some photos of tulips and frame them for my kitchen; could there be a better way to add a touch of pink?

We had a great day to take photos and play hooky. I brought us cheese, apples & crackers to snack on in case we didn't find a place for lunch and that worked out perfectly. The traffic can be gridlocked during peak bloom and these are 2-lane country roads. It is best to have a snack along.

Isn't this wonderful? Has it been years since you drove up to see the tulips? If you time it right (maybe mid week?), I know you would love it.

Hummingbird: Small Bird Big Thoughts

You see it too, right? My hummingbird Larry seems to be thinking. He is not flighty or skittish or defending his feeder. He looks bored, like he needs a teeny tiny newspaper. I'm hoping that he just likes the feel of the sun on his back so he's decided to sit and relax. I had to show you. This is the beauty of everyday life.

#hummingbird #hummingbirdfeeder #naturephotography #birdfeeder
 

Milk Bar in Bellevue, WA

I am so happy I finally made it over to Christina Tosi's Milk Bar location attached to Nordstrom in Bellevue, Washington. 

I ordered her famous Cereal Milk soft serve with Corn Flake Crunch topping and I thought that it was delicious. It's an undeniably American creation that is both comforting and craveable. The corn flake crunch is a must - it adds so much flavor and texture. I loved it. In fact, I think I want it on most ice cream sundaes going forward.

I am such a fan of Christina Tosi. I love her approach to baking and the creation of sweets for American tastes. I have her original Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook and I think it is brilliant. She looks at sugar and desserts through a very interesting lens and her desserts definitely make sense. You can tell that she created them and believe that they'll be good, if that makes sense. I guess I'm saying that I like how she thinks and I admire how she invents new fun desserts from old classics. I can't wait to see what she does next.

There's a great feature on Christina Tosi on Netflix's Chef's Table Pastry

I also wanted to tell you that during the pandemic, I was also amazed to see her hosting free baking classes on Zoom every week. She decided that it would be fun to form a Bake Club to help everyone, included her, cope with the strange times. I joined every once in a while and I really enjoyed it. She posted the ingredients we'd need the night before. It was such a neat way to spend a weekday afternoon. 

So Christina Tosi, I'm a fan. And I'm grateful that you brought your deliciousness to the Pacific Northwest.